Eora/Sydney-based singer-songwriter Will Baker has just released his impressive new track “Eddie.” It’s got such an accessible pop-rock sound with some really quality lyrics exploring the way our relationships with people can evolve over time.
“’Eddie’ is about watching people you grow up with turn into people that they said they would never be,” Will explained. “I wrote this song one night with my drummer Giac. We were in love with it straight away. Was a super easy process and a song that the whole band looks forward to playing every gig. I remember wanting to write a song about one of my mates who was going down a bad path.”
The music video, which Will directed with Harry Corcoran, was inspired by classic music of the 1970s.
“The music video was nuts. The theme was very rock n roll which we all bought into very well. First time I’ve ever worn makeup as well,” Will laughed. “Loved every second of the shoot day.”
If the quality of this song is any indication, we’ve got some exciting music from Will to look forward to in 2024.
Eora/Sydney duo Younger than Me have given me goosebumps with their latest single “With Every Heartbeat.” To call it beautiful doesn’t even begin to cover it. Their stunning harmonies, creativity, and talent shine through in technicolour. Take a moment to stop what you’re doing, block the rest of the world out, and just listen. I promise you that you won’t want to miss a detail.
“With Every Heartbeat” comes with a gorgeous music video shot on 16mm film in southern lutruwita/Tasmania by the super-talented video artist and cinematographer Ursula Woods.
“Ursula is based in one of those corners of the world that is almost too magical to exist,” the duo said. “We woke up each morning to the sound of water lapping under the converted boat shed that we slept in, and spent the day frolicking outside and making shapes together in the landscape. It embodied everything we tried to create through sound in the track, and it could not have been more perfect.”
Younger Than Me are working towards releasing a debut album. With every single release so strong, you can beat it’ll be something special.
Vanessa Lawless celebrates the wild feminine spirit with her latest single “La Loba.” The title translates to the she-wolf and takes inspiration from the book “Women Who Run With the Wolves.”
“‘La Loba’ declares the unleashing of the wild feminine spirit that’s been suppressed and misunderstood throughout time, encouraging total raw expression and the reawakening of our hidden selves,” Vanessa explained.
I love the way this one sounds. It’s got such a primal core which brings something new to the pop genre. I also appreciate that the lyrics deliver feminine power that comes from deep within. We’re so used to women declaring they’re powerful because they don’t need a man or because they’ve risen to the top. This one doesn’t measure a woman’s worth against her relationships or achievements. She’s powerful simply because she is.
Vanessa Lawless shows she’s a real force with this release. I can’t wait to hear what comes next.
King Stingray are bringing all the good vibes with their latest single, “Best Bits.”
“‘Best Bits’ is a song about all the best parts of life all poured into one moment”, the band explained. “Inspired by a particular moment in time, a particular day that had all the right ingredients. It’s about those ripper-of-a-day type moments, those warm days in the sunshine with your mates, with your family or a loved one. The memorable days that just seem to stick with you. It’s about simple living in a complex digital world, and although it can be hard to articulate in just a few words, a feeling that is so massive and profound. Sometimes all the best bits of life are already all around us! Yo manymak!”
King Stingray will be making more memories when they play shows through regional Australia in July and August with Jem Cassar-Daley warming up the crowds. Then they’re off to the United States to support King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizzard. Exciting times ahead for one of the Territory’s finest acts.
I know I’m a bit late to the party, but have we all listened to Fanning Dempsey National Park’s debut single “Disconnect” yet? The brainchild of Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey, I thought this new act was likely to be good, but I didn’t quite prepare myself for how good. Clearly, because otherwise I absolutely would have listened sooner! I’m going to be bold and say it might just be better than anything either of them have released before.
“We agreed straight away there’s no point doing something together if it’s going to be what people think it’s going to be,” Paul explained. “It’s not the two of us with acoustic guitars singing campfire songs.”
Bernard says “Disconnect” is about “The idea of having to walk away from something that you love because it’s become unmanageable. ‘Disconnect’ always had a lot of ‘serious moonlight’ energy, right from its beginnings. The swapping lead vocal plays with the idea of connecting and disconnecting by juxtaposing the confidence/ indecision with each consecutive line. We originally wanted to use sax on everything. After we roughly finished a demo we’d say, ‘What else does it need?’ The answer was inevitably more sax.”
That fantastic saxophone comes courtesy of Ron Dziubla, one of the world’s best session musicians. If that name doesn’t mean anything to you, just take a look at some of the music he’s played on. Tracks from Chris Isaak, Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, George Benson, The Crystal Method, and heaps more.
This is just a taster of all the exciting stuff in store for Fanning Dempsey National Park. They’ll release an album, The Deluge, on August 2, which I can’t wait to hear after playing this single obsessively (seriously, I’ve played nothing else since I started writing this article). They’re also heading around the country playing capital city shows in intimate theatres. Tickets are on sale now and probably won’t last long once everyone hears this track!
Naarm/Melbourne-based artist Parmy Dhillon celebrates his late father’s legacy with his joyous new single “India.” I guarantee this one will at least put a smile on your face, if it doesn’t have you up and dancing.
“The song was written as a tribute and reminder to myself after my father passed away, to always remember my culture and who I am,” Parmy explained.
“India” is Parmy’s first release of 2024, and I think it might just be his best work. I’m looking forward to hearing what else the year has in store for him.
When I heard The Buoys had co-written a song with Alex Lahey, I knew it was going to be good. The band’s latest single “Check Mate” doesn’t disappoint. Take a listen to this awesome track which shows The Buoys in top form.
Tas Wilson directed the music video, which captures the energy of a road trip with friends, mirroring the longing for connection that you hear through the song.
“Check Mate” gives us our first taste of The Buoys debut album Lustre, which will be released on July 12. You can pre-order a vinyl copy online. It was all recorded live, so I imagine it’s going to deliver everything we love about The Buoys. Before it drops, you can see The Buoys supporting Luke Hemmings at the following shows
With gloomy weather descending on my part of the country, it seems the ideal time to introduce you to Renee Naccari’s latest single, “Perfect Storm.” It’s a gorgeous introspective pop ballad that I know will leave you spellbound.
“It was challenging, but I had so much fun writing ‘Perfect Storm’. Creating all the little metaphors that I had visualised, into written lyrics to align with the story I was aiming to convey, that being, the push and pull between two people who want nothing more than to be together but finding it hard to make it work, a storm with a ray of sunlight as the clouds part,” Renee explained.
“Perfect Storm” serves as a precursor for Renee’s debut album, slated for release later this year, and a string of live shows. Exciting times ahead!
Dust off your cowboy boots, grab your hat, and settle in for a whole lot of fun with Claudia Tripp’s latest track “Rodeo.” It’s brand new, but it already feels like a certified country-blues classic. If this song doesn’t get played at every country music festival until the end of time, there’s no justice.
“I wrote ‘Rodeo’ as a celebration of the small-town people I grew up with,” Claudia said. “I recently travelled back to my hometown of Kalgoorlie to perform at a rodeo, and when the possibility of unpredictable weather loomed, it didn’t seem to matter. It’s their weekend after a hard work week, and they’ll be dancing in the dirt come thunderstorm or heatwave. My producer Mason Vellios made this song come to life exactly how I imagined it. I hope the track becomes a weekend anthem for everybody who clocks off work and needs to let their hair down”.
With an irresistible pop melody and searingly honest lyrics, GRAACE has captured my heart with her latest single “Love is Getting Wasted.” Following hot on the heels of last month’s release “Jealous Type,” it’s looking like 2024 might be a big year for GRAACE.
“’Love Is Getting Wasted’ is like diving into a whirlpool of emotions. It’s about feeling torn between sticking it out or calling it quits in a relationship” GRAACE explained. “You’re grappling with hope and resignation, trying to hold onto the last shreds of love, desperate for the attention they gave you in the beginning, but uncertainty looms about your future.”
GRAACE has already sold out headlining shows and toured with Stephen Sanchez this year, but she’s not stopping yet. She’ll be back on the road next month supporting The Dreggs at the following shows.
